# 2011–12 Scottish Third Division

The 2011–12 Scottish Football League Third Division (also known as the 2011–12 Irn Bru Scottish Football League Third Division for sponsorship reasons) was the 18th season in the current format of 10 teams in the fourth-tier of Scottish football. The season started on 6 August 2011 and finished on 5 May 2012.
Alloa Athletic secured the Third Division title on 7 April 2012, ending their one-year spell in the bottom tier of the Scottish Football League. A second promotion place is available through the play-offs which will be contested by runners-up Queen's Park along with Stranraer, Elgin City, and Albion Rovers of the Second Division. There is no relegation from this division but East Stirlingshire finished bottom for the sixth time in 10 years.

## Teams

A total of 10 teams competed in the league, including eight sides from the previous season and the two teams relegated from the 2010–11 Scottish Second Division.
Arbroath as champions of the 2010–11 season were directly promoted to the 2011–12 Scottish Second Division. Thus completing only a one-year stay in the bottom tier of the Scottish Football League. In the process, winning the club's first ever senior silverware since the club was founded in 1878 − 133 years ago. They were replaced by Peterhead who finished bottom of the 2010–11 Scottish Second Division, relegated for the first time since joining the Scottish Football League in 2000.
A second promotion place was available via a play-off tournament between the ninth-placed team of the 2010–11 Scottish Second Division, Alloa Athletic, and the sides ranked second, third and fourth of the 2010–11 Scottish Third Division; Albion Rovers, Queen's Park and Annan Athletic respectively. The play off was won by Albion Rovers who defeated Annan Athletic in the final. Alloa Athletic were therefore relegated.

### Stadia and locations

| Team | Location | Stadium | Capacity | Average |
| Alloa Athletic | Alloa | Recreation Park | 3,100 | 672 |
| Annan Athletic | Annan | Galabank | 2,007 | 473 |
| Berwick Rangers | Berwick-upon-Tweed | Shielfield Park | 4,065 | 396 |
| Clyde | Cumbernauld | Broadwood | 8,006 | 566 |
| East Stirlingshire | Stenhousemuir | Ochilview Park | 3,746 | 321 |
| Elgin City | Elgin | Borough Briggs | 3,927 | 628 |
| Montrose | Montrose | Links Park | 3,292 | 335 |
| Peterhead | Peterhead | Balmoor | 3,150 | 488 |
| Queen's Park | Glasgow | Hampden Park | 52,025 | 519 |
| Stranraer | Stranraer | Stair Park | 6,250 | 354 |
A.^ East Stirlingshire ground shared with Stenhousemuir.

### Personnel and kits

Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| Team | Manager | Kit manufacturer | Shirt sponsor |
| Alloa Athletic | Paul Hartley | Pendle | mte |
| Annan Athletic | Harry Cairney | Stanno | M&S Engineering |
| Berwick Rangers | Jimmy Crease | Zoo Sport | JB Site Investigations |
| Clyde | Jim Duffy | Joma | Floortel |
| East Stirlingshire | John Coughlin | Jako | Foxlane |
| Elgin City | Ross Jack | Hummel | |
| Montrose | Ray Farningham | Nike | Fotheringham Property Developments |
| Peterhead | Jim McInally | Umbro | Bon Accord Glass |
| Queen's Park | Gardner Speirs | Joma | Irn-Bru |
| Stranraer | Keith Knox | Stanno | Stena Line |

## League table

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion or qualification |
| 1 | Alloa Athletic (C, P) | 36 | 23 | 8 | 5 | 70 | 39 | +31 | 77 | Promotion to the Second Division |
| 2 | Queen's Park | 36 | 19 | 6 | 11 | 70 | 48 | +22 | 63 | Qualification for the Second Division Play-offs |
| 3 | Stranraer (P) | 36 | 17 | 7 | 12 | 77 | 57 | +20 | 58 | Qualification for the Second Division Play-offs |
| 4 | Elgin City | 36 | 16 | 9 | 11 | 68 | 60 | +8 | 57 | Qualification for the Second Division Play-offs |
| 5 | Peterhead | 36 | 15 | 6 | 15 | 51 | 53 | −2 | 51 | |
| 6 | Annan Athletic | 36 | 13 | 10 | 13 | 53 | 53 | 0 | 49 | |
| 7 | Berwick Rangers | 36 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 61 | 58 | +3 | 48 | |
| 8 | Montrose | 36 | 11 | 5 | 20 | 58 | 75 | −17 | 38 | |
| 9 | Clyde | 36 | 8 | 11 | 17 | 35 | 50 | −15 | 35 | |
| 10 | East Stirlingshire | 36 | 6 | 6 | 24 | 38 | 88 | −50 | 24 | |
* ↑ Stranraer advanced to the final of the Second Division play-offs but were defeated by Albion Rovers, who retained their place in the Second Division. However, following the demotion of Rangers to the Third Division, Dundee were promoted from the First Division to the SPL, Airdrie United promoted from the Second to the First Division, and Stranraer were promoted from the Third to the Second Division.

## Results

Each team plays every other team four times in the season. In each half of the season, a team plays every opponent once at home and once away from home. The same set of fixtures is repeated for the second half of the season, bringing each team's tally of games to 36.

## Statistics
### Top goalscorers

| Pos | Player | Club | Goals |
| 1 | Martin Boyle | Montrose | 22 |
| 2 | Jamie Longworth | Queen's Park | 20 |
| 2 | Rory McAllister | Peterhead | 20 |
| 4 | Stevie May | Alloa Athletic | 19 |
| 5 | Craig Gunn | Elgin City | 18 |
| 6 | Craig Malcolm | Stranraer | 15 |
| 7 | Michael Moore | Stranraer | 12 |
| 7 | Stephen Stirling | Stranraer | 12 |
| 9 | Ryan McCord | Alloa Athletic | 11 |
| 10 | Michael Daly | Queen's Park | 10 |
| 10 | Darren Gribben | Berwick Rangers | 10 |

### Hat-tricks

| Player | For | Against | Result | Date |
| Craig Gunn$^4$ | Elgin City | Berwick Rangers | 4–1 | 6 August 2011 |
| Stevie May | Alloa Athletic | East Stirlingshire | 3–1 | 2 January 2012 |
| Jamie Longworth$^4$ | Queen's Park | Elgin City | 6–0 | 14 January 2012 |
| Craig Gunn | Elgin City | Montrose | 3–2 | 25 February 2012 |
| Stevie May$^4$ | Alloa Athletic | Elgin City | 8–1 | 7 April 2012 |
| Martin Boyle | Montrose | Clyde | 5–0 | 5 May 2012 |
* $^4$ Player scored 4 goals

## Awards

| Month | Third Division Manager of the Month | Third Division Manager of the Month | SFL Player of the Month | SFL Player of the Month | SFL Young player of the Month | SFL Young player of the Month | Ginger Boot | Ginger Boot |
| Month | Manager | Club | Player | Club | Player | Club | Player | Club |
| August | Harry Cairney | Annan Athletic | First division player | First division player | First division player | First division player | Craig Gunn | Elgin City |
| September | Paul Hartley | Alloa Athletic | First division player | First division player | Second division player | Second division player | First division player | First division player |
| October | Gardner Speirs | Queen's Park | First division player | First division player | First division player | First division player | Second division player | Second division player |
| November | Ian Little | Berwick Rangers | First division player | First division player | Second division player | Second division player | Darren Gribben | Berwick Rangers |
| December | Keith Knox | Stranraer | First division player | First division player | Stephen Stirling | Stranraer | Stephen Stirling | Stranraer |
| January | Paul Hartley | Alloa Athletic | Stevie May | Alloa Athletic | Stevie May | Alloa Athletic | Stevie May | Alloa Athletic |
| February | Ross Jack | Elgin City | Second division player | Second division player | First division player | First division player | Second division player | Second division player |
| March | | | | | | | | |
| April | | | | | | | | |